Key tag



April 27, 1937. J. T. SMITH. JR. ET AL 2,078,293

KEY TAG Filed A ril 24, 1936 Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFIE KEY TAG Application April 24, 1936, Serial No. 76,272

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in key tags, and its objects are as follows:

First, to provide a key tag which is intended for use in conjunction with hotel room keys, but not necessarily so, to which end it is so made as to conveniently enable the return of the key by mail in the event of the guest having taken the key with him upon his departure.

Second, to provide a key tag which is intended to be permanently but hingedly connected with the door key, the purpose of the hinge being to enable closing the tag and key together into a unit of moderate dimensions, the sides of the tag being curved upwardly so that the key will be r enclosed in a neat and compact package, especial- 1y for the foregoing mailing purposes.

Third, to make a provision for tying the key and tag together when closed upon themselves as outlined above, thus to prevent relative swinging of the two parts upon the connecting hinge.

Fourth, to provide for the incidental use of the key tag as a shoe horn, thereby providing the guest with an additional, and in many instances appreciated, convenience.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the key and key tag unit, the two parts being shown folded and tied together preparatory to mailing.

Figure 2 is a similar perspective View illustrating the reverse side of the key tag.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the key and key tag swung open on the connecting hinge. Figure 4 is a detailed perspective View illus trating the use of the key tag as a shoe horn.

It is not an uncommon practice for the guests of hotel rooms to take their keys with them upon their departure from the hotel. Whether or not such unintentionally taken keys are ever returned depends upon the inclination of the guests because adequate and conveniently used facilities for mailing are rarely provided. It is one of the purposes of the invention to make it convenient for the guest to remail the key in case he has permanently left the hotel with it.

Attention is directed to the drawing. The key I (Fig. 3) is herein regarded as the key to a hotel room, but it may be some other kind of a key because the tag is not confined to use in connection with hotel room keys. A rivet 2 permanently but swingably connects the key with the fork 3 of a hinge leaf 4, the companion leaf 5 of which comprises the bent over end of the shank 6 of the major part I of the key tag. The key tag is generally designated 8, and it comprises the hinge leaf 3 already mentioned, as well as the major part i. The latter is in the form of an exaggerated spoon, a special feature of it being the upturned sides 9 which serve to enclose, in a manner of speaking, the key I when it is folded over into the position shown in Fig. 1.

When the key and key tag unit are folded over, as stated, the sides e do not actually enclose the key in the sense of forming a complete coverage, but rather they extend up high enough to generally be on a level with the key which lies on the bottom of the trough so that there are no outstanding prominences which will make the unit an objectionable package when mailed. The hinge leaves 4, 5 are provided with interfitted tongues I0, which are connected by a hinge pin I I.

A pair of slots I2 in the part i provide a rib I3 which is used as an anchorage for a ribbon I4, or its equivalent, by which the key 9 is tied down against the part I (Fig. 1) preparatory to mail ing. The ribbon I4 goes on opposite sides of the rib I3 and key I, and when tied at I5 secures the key in the folded-in position.

A hole IS in the free extremity of the part I provides for hanging the key tag with its key on a nail. The outside of the part I will have printed matter H applied thereto. stance this will be the return address of the hotel to which the key belongs. There is enough space at E8 (Fig. 2) to provide for the application of a stamp I9. Other data may be applied to the part I to supplement the printed matter it, for example, a guarantee of the refundment of the amount expended in postage. It is also contemplated to apply printed matter to the concave side of the part I but this has no concern with the invention.

It will be observed that the part i is made somewhat in the form of a shoe horn. The foremost purpose of the upturned sides 9 is to insure confining the key I when folded over, but these upturned sides also give the part I the form of a shoe horn, and it is intended that the part i shall be used for this additional purpose, (Fig. 4) thus providing the guest with a convenience which will be appreciated many times. Persons taking trips away from home often find that they have omitted to bring a shoe horn along. There are very few things which can be used in substitution for a shoe horn, so by shaping the part I of the key tag in the manner set out, the guest will have at hand a very convenient implement.

In the present in- We claim:

1. A key tag comprising complementary hinge leaves having a hinge pin connecting them together, a fork comprising a portion of one of the hinge leaves and having means by which to secure a key in place, and a major part extending from the other hinge leaf, said part having sides turned up high enough to substantially confine the key when swung over upon said major part into position between said upturned sides.

2. A key tag comprising complementary hinge leaves having a hinge pin connecting them together, a fork comprising a portion of one of the hinge leaves and having means by which to secure a key in place, a major part extending from the other hinge leaf, said part having sides turned up high enough to substantially confine the key when swung over upon said major part into position between said upturned sides, tie means, and

means on the major part around which the tie means is applied preparatory to tying the key down in position against said major part.

3. A key and key tag unit comprising the com bination of a door key, and a key tag comprising the following parts; a hinge leaf having a fork to contain a portion of the key, securing means going through the fork and said key por; tion to hold the fork and key together, a major part of substantially spoon form, said part having a shank terminating in a complementary hinge leaf, a pin connecting the two leaf hinges, a rib in said major part defined by a pair of slots and tie means carried by the rib, said tie means being adapted for use to secure the key against said major part when the key is swung on its hinge.

- JOHN T. SMITH, JR.

GEORGE A. TURNER. 

